It was an authority they had exerted from the first whistle and, despite a spell of South Korean pressure in the second half as they pressed for an equaliser, Argentina were thoroughly deserving of the points.

BBC: Argentina 4-1 South Korea

The pressure is on All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond, second baseman Danny Espinosa and first baseman Adam LaRoche to duplicate their solid seasons from a year ago.

WSJ: MLB 2013: Challengers gear up to take down Giants

But most signs, and the pressure of events, suggest that his second six months in office will prove harder than the first.

ECONOMIST: A puzzling progress